Appointments

Questions

Fellowships

Cleveland Clinic's Cole Eye Institute offers highest-quality fellowship training opportunities in a variety of sub-specialties. These fellowships train the next generation of academic leaders in the respective fields by combining an excellent academic environment with mentorship support in a state-of-the-art eye care facility.

For more information and application deadlines, click on the fellowship in which you are interested or contact Cole Eye Institute Education Coordinator Jennifer DiPiero at 216.444.2010 or dipierj@ccf.org.

This fellowship will combine the strengths of the refractive surgery service and corneal disease service into a single program that will offer the most comprehensive and advanced academic training in the subspecialty of corneal diseases and surgery, and refractive surgery.

This combined program will offer a comprehensive, high quality educational experience to candidates interested in becoming expert in treating patients with diseases of the anterior segment of the eye, performing refractive surgery and conducting research.

Fellowship Program Director

Teaching Faculty

The fellowship program will encompass comprehensive active clinical practice in the fields of cornea, external disease and keratorefractive surgery geared to treat not only the common clinical problems encountered in this field but also the most challenging cases referred to a tertiary-care level institution. These include high-risk corneal transplantation, DSAEK, DALK and ocular surface reconstruction with amniotic membrane grafting, limbal stem cell grafting, treatment of inflammatory diseases of the eye and management of surgical complications.

During the one-year program (two slots), the active clinical experience will provide candidates with the opportunity to participate in relevant clinical investigation trials that would allow implementation of new technologies and concepts being developed in these fields.

The overall goal of the fellowship program is to train the next generation of academic leaders in the field of corneal external diseases and refractive surgery by providing an excellent academic environment with mentorship support.

The faculty of both services has the capacity to provide research projects at the basic science level, as well as the clinical service, and this will be supervised throughout the trainee’s time at the Cole Eye Institute. The research will be performed at the Department of Ophthalmic Research at the Cole Eye Institute and in the clinical suites. At present, the principal investigator in our department committed to the basic science research of the anterior segment will provide funding for materials and resources for trainees to do their research.

As an important part of their principal responsibility, fellows will teach and give didactic lectures to residents. They will be available during the clinic time while residents rotate through the cornea and refractive surgery service and should expect to participate in cornea rounds and conferences every other week. Moreover, fellows will be integrated into the residency conference program to give lectures on different topics regarding this field.

Key accomplishments by our team of cornea and refractive surgery specialists

Refractive Surgery

More than 2,000 refractive procedures performed each year: LASIK, PRK, LASEK, and customized ablation

Corneal and External Disease

Treatment of corneal diseases: infection, dystrophies, immunology

PKP, DSAEK, DALK and corneal crosslinking performed by corneal faculty

Corneal Research

Corneal cell biology and wound healing

Anterior segment imaging and physiologic optics

Advanced laser technology

Corneal crosslinking

Program Director

Teaching Faculty

The goal of the one-year glaucoma fellowship at the Cole Eye Institute is to provide the best advanced training for the diagnosis and the medical and surgical management of glaucoma. The program’s emphasis is on providing the highest quality clinical experience that allows fellows to become thoroughly familiar with every aspect of glaucoma and the state-of-the-art diagnosis and medical and surgical management of this disease, combined with significant research experience focusing on glaucoma.

The glaucoma fellowship offers the opportunity to learn all aspects of the diagnosis and management of primary, secondary and complicated glaucoma problems in patients of all ages. The Cole Eye Institute has a strong reputation for glaucoma treatment and experiences a large patient volume in this subspecialty. Fellows also treat related anterior segment disorders, including cataract.

Fellows gain experience in diagnostic techniques for glaucoma, examine patients and develop treatment plans under the supervision of a faculty advisor. They provide extended consultations with patients and referring physicians as appropriate, administer medical treatment and participate in the long-term follow-up of glaucoma patients. They perform the full range of glaucoma procedures, laser and surgical, under the supervision of the glaucoma faculty, averaging 5 procedures per week.

As in all sections of the Cole Eye Institute, research is integrated into the glaucoma fellowship. Fellows develop independent research projects and also have the opportunity to collaborate with The Cleveland Clinic research faculty on projects of special interest in molecular genetics, cell biology and other subspecialties related to glaucoma, as well as clinical research in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. Fellows are expected to have at least one research paper accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Dedicated research time is incorporated into the schedule. The faculty can assist in developing research projects at both the basic and clinical levels.

Fellows also gain the experience of teaching and giving didactic lectures to residents. During the time that residents rotate through the glaucoma service, the fellows are available for consultation during clinic. They also participate in the residency conference program.

Ultimately, the glaucoma fellowship at the Cole Eye Institute seeks to train the next generation of mature, experienced, competent subspecialists, equipped with research and clinical experience, who will become the future leaders in their field.

One candidate is accepted for the fellowship each year.

(2-Year Program, 1 Slot)

The Cole Eye Institute offers a two-year ASOPRS approved fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. You must apply for this fellowship through SF Match (formerly NRMP). This intensive program trains fellows to perform advanced orbital and oculoplastic surgery. The candidate is expected to have completed an approved residency program and have expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of common oculoplastic conditions as addressed by the comprehensive ophthalmologist. The fellowship emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of advanced and complex orbital and ophthalmic plastic surgery conditions.

The oculoplastic fellowship includes a significant research component, reflecting the Cole Eye Institute’s underlying philosophy/synergy between research and clinical practice and how it improves patient care. The oculoplastic surgery fellow participates in research, publishes in peer-reviewed journals, and assists in the development of translational research to benefit our patients.

The fellow also gains experience in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery education. The fellow participates in didactic lectures to our residents and medical students. The fellow also assists residents on the consultation service and in the operating room, and participates in the residency conference program.

Ultimately, the oculoplastic surgery fellowship at the Cole Eye Institute aims to train the next generation of leaders in the field of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery.

This one-year fellowship provides comprehensive training in the specialty of ophthalmic oncology. The program’s emphasis is on providing both clinical evaluation and medical and surgical management of the full range of conditions encountered in the field of ophthalmic oncology.

The ophthalmic oncology department at the Cole Eye Institute is unique in that it manages the full variety of tumors seen in the field of ophthalmic oncology. The world-class faculty, unmatched funding resources and academic research initiatives underway at the Cole Eye Institute, provides fellows with unparalleled training in the field of ophthalmic oncology. Fellows will be exposed to large numbers of patients referred for the evaluation and management of ocular tumors. Cole Eye Institute serves as a tertiary referral center for a significant volume of tumors of the eyelid, conjunctiva and cornea, uvea, retina and retinal pigment epithelium, and the orbit. Experience in pediatric ophthalmic oncology is provided through the treatment of children with retinoblastoma.

Training is provided in various imaging techniques useful in the diagnosis and direction of management of ocular tumors including ophthalmic ultrasound, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography. Surgical experience is gained in the operating room under the direct supervision of the ophthalmic oncology faculty. Fellows will participate in state-of-the-art surgical techniques used for tumor biopsy, implantation of radioactive delivery systems, tumor excision, laser treatment modalities, and cryotherapy.

The ophthalmic oncology fellowship also includes a significant research component with opportunities for investigation in the fields of cell biology, molecular biology, immunology and other relevant disciplines. Ample opportunities exist to present research projects at national professional meetings and research symposia.

Fellows will participate in teaching residents and medical students in the classroom, the clinical setting, and in other education activities such as journal clubs.

The ophthalmic oncology fellowship provides 12-months of training with a well-rounded curriculum with the following components:

Clinical Rotations

Surgical Rotations

Research Component

Teaching Activities

Clinical Rotations

The fellow will examine and evaluate patients under direct faculty supervision approximately 2.5 days per week. Clinical instruction focuses on the initial diagnosis of ocular tumors and management of these conditions.

Surgical Rotations

Fellows will gain surgical experience over the course of the 12-month fellowship under the direct supervision of the ophthalmic oncology faculty. Fellows will participate in surgery approximately 1.5-2.0 days per week. They will be exposed to a variety of surgical techniques used for the evaluation and treatment of eye tumors including: tumor biopsy (fine needle aspiration biopsy, incisional biopsy, excisional biopsy), implantation of radioactive delivery systems, tumor excision, laser treatment modalities, and cryotherapy.

Research Component

The division of ophthalmic research at the Cole Eye Institute with its state-of-the-art laboratory facilities provides fellows in the ophthalmic oncology program with significant opportunities for investigation in the fields of cell biology, molecular biology, immunology and other relevant disciplines. Approximately 1 day per week is reserved for research initiatives allowing the fellow to engage in academic projects of interest. Ample opportunities exist to present research projects at national professional meetings and research symposia

Teaching Activities

Fellows will participate in teaching residents and medical students at the Cole Eye Institute in the classroom and the clinical setting. They will prepare presentations for subspecialty departmental grand rounds, pathology conferences, and joint conferences with other local academic institutions. In addition, the curriculum requires fellows to prepare for other educational activities such as biannual journal clubs.

Off Campus Rotations

Fellows with a subspecialty interest within ophthalmic oncology may choose to participate in an off-campus rotation. For example, fellows with an interest in retinoblastoma or pathology of ocular tumors may arrange to travel to collaborating academic institutions for 1 to 3 months to focus on an area of interest. Off-campus rotations are at the discretion of the program chairman and are dependent upon available funding and faculty availability at off-site academic institutions.

Teaching faculty and research mentors:

Biographical Sketch

Arun D. Singh, MD, is Director of the Department of Ophthalmic Oncology in the Cole Eye Institute at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. He is Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, London, United Kingdom, and the American Board of Ophthalmology. He has published more than 190 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and has edited a major textbook, Clinical Ophthalmic Oncology, published by Elsevier. He is Editor of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Physician Applicant Information

This is a one- or two-year fellowship, offered through the Ophthalmology Fellowship match to one individual per year. The training concentrates on the diagnosis and management of eye diseases of childhood and on adult strabismus. There is also the opportunity for extensive exposure to genetic diseases of the eye that includes a retinal dystrophy clinic supervised by Dr. Traboulsi.

Two-year appointments are reserved for individuals with a major interest in an academic career, and for those who want to conduct large research projects during their fellowship. Teaching of the fellows is done in the areas of general pediatric ophthalmology, childhood strabismus and binocular vision, pediatric cataract and external eye diseases, adult strabismus and in ophthalmic genetics. The fellow attends the pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus clinics and surgical sessions of Drs. Andreas Marcotty, Paul Rychwalski and Elias I. Traboulsi.

In addition, the fellow participates in the screening and treatment of premature infants with risk of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) under the direction of Dr. Rychwalski and Dr. Jonathan Sears, a full-time pediatric retina specialist at the Cole Eye Institute. There are ample opportunities to expand the fellow’s clinical research interests into other areas such as pediatric glaucoma, ocular and orbital oncology, pediatric neuro-ophthalmology and pediatric oculoplastics through interactions with the respective specialists at the Cole Eye Institute.

Fellows perform a large number of varied surgical case including strabismus, cataracts, nasolacrimal duct obstruction, and eyelid disorders. One major clinical or basic science project is assigned to the fellow at the beginning of the academic year. The project is supervised by one or more members of the full-time faculty. The fellow is expected to present the results of the research at the Annual Research Day Meeting, as well as submit abstracts to national meetings. A paper summarizing the outcome of the research should be written prior to the end of the fellowship training. Additional projects may be assigned depending on the capability and interests of the fellow. A list of recommended articles and textbooks is given at the beginning of the fellowship.

The Cole Eye Institute is a world-renowned center with state-of-the-art clinical and research facilities. It is part of the the Cleveland Clinic, one of the top 4 hospitals in the USA. The fellow will have ample opportunity to interact with specialists, residents and fellows from many other pediatric and adult subspecialties including Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Rheumatology, Neonatology, and others. The fellow is also expected to participate in the teaching of residents and medical students.

The goal of the two-year vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the Cole Eye Institute is to provide the best advanced training in the world for the management of vitreoretinal diseases. The program’s emphasis is on providing the highest quality clinical experience that allows fellows to become thoroughly familiar with every aspect of vitreoretinal diseases and the state-of-the-art medical and surgical management of these conditions, combined with research to advance the diagnosis and management of these problems.

This intensive program of study includes the opportunity for fellows to perform common and advanced vitreoretinal surgeries under the supervision of some of the world’s leading retinal surgeons, in one of the finest ophthalmological surgical facilities in the world. Faculty members are committed to developing tomorrow’s leaders in this subspecialty and, therefore, ensure that fellows acquire world-class surgical skills during their training here. Fellows are given the opportunity to play a central role in the care of patients, and enjoy increased autonomy in the Fellow Clinic and while performing complex surgeries.

The vitreoretinal surgery fellowship includes a significant research component, reflecting the Cole Eye Institute’s underlying philosophy that synergy must exist between research and patient care. Fellows have an opportunity to participate in laboratory research at the Cole Eye Institute in the fields of cell biology, molecular biology, immunology and other relevant disciplines and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Fellows also must conduct clinical research and publish their results.

Dedicated research time is incorporated into the schedule. The faculty can assist in developing research projects at both the basic and clinical levels.

Fellows also gain the experience of teaching and giving didactic lectures to residents. During the time that residents rotate through the vitreoretinal surgery service, the fellows are available for consultation during clinic. They also participate in the residency conference program and are responsible for presenting the weekly fluorescein angiography conference with the faculty in attendance.

Ultimately, the vitreoretinal fellowship at the Cole Eye Institute seeks to train the next future leaders in their field.

Schedule an Appointment Online

Call us for an Appointment

Same-day Appointments

To arrange a same-day visit, call 216.444.CARE (2273)

This information is provided by Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace
the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider.
Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.